Beauty is a calling as well as a never-ending source of inspiration and exploration for photographer Torkil Gudnason. Knowing this helps to understand why natural elements are so often integral to his images – there is a reverence for the way nature constantly evolves and changes. “Not one moment is the same,” he says – just as each moment with a model reveals endless permutations, with shapes that are both ancient and timeless, as well as contemporary and fascinating.
Read moreTim Flach: Equus
Equus: The genus of mammals that includes horses – from the Ass to Zebra, Equus covers the globe. Going back through millennia, Equus have captured the human imagination in a way few animals ever do – from gracing cave walls as paintings, to appearing in our earliest mythology, and being seen in the sky as star constellations – - the horse is an animal companion that is close to our collective human soul.
Read moreTim Flach: More Than Human
So much in nature reconnects us to our own sense of wonder at this world that we live within. And there is nothing quite like watching animals to spark within us our own sense of empathy and awe, as we recognize ourselves within these astonishing creatures. More Than Human with amaze, inspire, and thrill you - but most of all, it will make you think.
Read moreLouie Schwartzberg: TED Talk and Time-lapse
Take ten minutes out of your life to watch this this TED Talk by Louie Schwartzberg, an award-winning cinematographer, and I guarantee that you will feel grateful afterwards. I love this talk because Schwartzberg hits the nail on the head, touching on why I think beauty is an important part of our lives.
Read moreJill Greenberg: Horse
Jill Greenberg photographs horses as if they are lovely fashion models, giving her portraits and studies of their form a fresh, dynamic edge. The beautiful detail in which she has chosen to render them – using a camera better suited to studio portraiture than a moving animal – is mesmerizing.
Read moreTim Flach: Extraordinary Animals
Tim Flach's animal photography astounds me with it's graphic compositions and wonderful detail. Being able to examine each hair on an animal, or each wrinkle of their skin, provides an up-close experience that few people ever get an opportunity to have. It reminds us of the wonder each animal is, and the connection we share with them, and in turn, to the divine.
Read moreMark Laita: Year of the Snake
"The sensual attractiveness of snakes, which coexists with their threatening, unpredictable and mysterious nature is truly unique. This dichotomy, in which their beauty seems to be heightened by their danger, and vice-versa, is what I find so fascinating. Add to these contradictions the rich symbolism of serpents and you have a wonderfully compelling subject."
Read moreAndrew Zuckerman: Bird
I am utterly mesmerized by Andrew Zuckerman's images for his book, "Bird". Perhaps it's because I can stare at these creatures so closely, and in such marvelous detail, that makes me enjoy the experience in a way I never could in real life. The color combinations in their feathers, the amazing textures, and sometimes the odd humanity I see in their eyes, all combine to fill me with wonder - and I hope you feel the same way, too.
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